Warning: I’m going to go on a rant. I saw behavior from a peer that truly dumbfounded me.

Working alongside other photographers and videographers gives me a truly great point of reference for how to act in front and away from couples.

Recently, I worked alongside a photographer that showed me a great example of how to not act, especially in front of clients.

This photographer, who was the lead photographer this day, was absolutely manic in their posing. The way he posed allowed for beautiful imagery, but at the cost of the couple’s patience. That is something I truly cannot get behind. That should never be the cost of our work as wedding photographers.

The photographer was also constantly at odds with the videographers. He wasn’t willing to work in a manner that allowed the videographers to create the quality the clients paid for.

Here’s the one thing you should NEVER do in front of a client. He was combative and rude with the videographers in front of the clients and at one point in front of everyone at the ceremony. At one point, they were positioning the groom for the first look. They kept moving him around because they couldn’t decide on proper lighting because of harsh shadows created by trees nearby. I could tell the moment was getting sour for the groom. That should never be the case, especially before a first look.

The session got even more tense as time went on. By the end of the session, the couple was done with photography and videography.

For this person, the videographers were an after thought and his work was priority. That is not the case.

Clients are paying a lot of money for both photographers and videographers to have their wedding documented and their love displayed in a manner that is uncommon to them. Both parties, even on a day like a wedding where time is usually strained, should have their moment to get the imagery they need to tell a compelling story for their couples.

Okay, rant over. I’m sorry. I don’t normally get this riled up, but boy, oh boy. This hit hard as a service provider.